Archive for February 10th, 2011

Major League Soccer released its full schedule today, but fans don’t yet know how many teams will make the playoffs this season, or if there will be wild-card slots again in 2011.

League spokesperson Will Kuhns stated Thursday that “MLS is reviewing the playoff format and playoff schedule for 2011 and will announce details soon.”

At the 2010 MLS Cup, commissioner Don Garber said the league would look at moving to a 10-team playoff format, with the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds in each conference battling for the final spots. As well, the league would be reviewing how many wild cards would be awarded, as MLS did not want a repeat of last season, with two western teams (San Jose and Colorado) both crossing over into the other conference and eventually contesting the Eastern Conference final between themselves.Read the rest of this entry »

When news broke last week that women’s national-team coach Carolina Morace was going to resign after the 2011 World Cup over alleged CSA interference in her program, sympathy for the women’s program was widespread.

After all, we were just a day from a massive CSA reform vote — and recently retired Kara Lang was off to Ottawa to carry the torch for the development of the women’s game in Canada. It was a noble cry for equality in a sports world dominated by men.

But, after the vote, as the women announced their intention to boycott games through the media, there is no shaking that, with every passing day, that support is eroding.

A boycott is a massive undertaking, and has repercussion not just for the women’s team, but the whole program. If the Canadian women were to boycott a World Cup match, FIFA reserves the right — it’s written in the tournament rulebook. ““Depending on the circumstances of the withdrawal, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee may impose additional sanctions, including the suspension of the Participating Member Association concerned from subsequent FIFA competitions.”

“Participating Member Association” are the three key words. That means FIFA doesn’t just suspend the women’s program, it suspends ALL of Canada’s programs. The entire CSA gets a black eye.Read the rest of this entry »

Trialist Gianluca Zavarise scored and was sent off as Toronto FC lost 3-1 to Dinamo Zagreb Thursday in their final training match in Turkey.

Despite being without veteran Igor Biscan — the former Liverpool man was out with injury — and Brazilian-born midfielder Sammir, who has been linked to a move to Fiorentina, the Croats triumphed in a game that was anything but friendly.Read the rest of this entry »